Physician Assistant Title Change Gains Ground Amid Debate

Efforts to update the professional title for physician assistants in the United States have led to policy changes, institutional opposition, and ongoing debate about the responsibilities and public understanding of the role.

The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) voted in May 2021 to use “physician associate” as its preferred title, replacing “physician assistant.” This decision followed a 2019 initiative in which the AAPA hired a consulting firm to examine alternative titles for the profession.

Oregon became the first state to legally recognize the “physician associate” title, with the change taking effect in June 2024. Other states, such as New Hampshire, Maine, and Minnesota, are considering or have implemented similar changes, and some educational programs for PAs have updated their names accordingly.

The AAPA’s chief of public affairs and advocacy stated that the term “assistant” does not reflect the full scope of PA responsibilities, which include providing specialty and primary care, diagnosing illnesses, treating patients, and prescribing medications. The occupational title “physician assistant” was first used in 1967 at Duke University and has since been adopted in various forms internationally.

What the numbers show

• 15% of physician assistants opposed the title change in a Medscape survey
• 45% of surveyed PAs reported being neutral on the title change
• About 25% of patients incorrectly believe PAs are physicians or are unsure
• 45% of patients find it difficult to identify licensed physicians

The American Medical Association (AMA) formally opposed the rebranding effort, stating that the new title could confuse patients and potentially conflict with state laws. The AMA House of Delegates directed the organization to actively oppose the use of “physician associate” and to support reserving the term “physician” for MDs and DOs.

Some physicians and physician organizations have expressed concern that the new title might lead patients to believe that PAs are fully qualified doctors. These organizations have cited the potential for misunderstanding about the qualifications and roles of healthcare professionals.

Survey data show that while a portion of physician assistants object to the title change, a larger group remains neutral. Patient understanding of healthcare provider roles remains inconsistent, with a notable percentage of patients either unsure about the qualifications of PAs or unable to clearly identify licensed physicians.

Industry reaction

The AAPA has promoted the title change as a way to better represent the range of duties performed by PAs, emphasizing their involvement in diagnosis, treatment, and prescribing.

The AMA has maintained its opposition, stating that the change may create confusion for patients and advocating for clear distinctions between physicians and other healthcare professionals in official titles.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.